C215 – New Office (1)
The news of Director Zuo’s promotion of Crane City Prefect spread like a snowflake. There were those who doubted him, those who despised him, those who looked forward to him, and those who truly admired him.
As a new official, Zuo Shaoqing was not in a hurry to complete his official duties on the first day of his assignment. Instead, he first familiarized himself with the people in the prefectural attendent, and when He Min proposed to welcome Prefect in the evening, no one rejected his proposal. As a result, everyone in the yamen entered one of the large restaurants in Crane City.
On this day, Jiung Hengzhou had already started counting the treasures in the Lin Residence. Only when he took out all the valuable items from the Lin Residence did he realize that he had underestimated Lin Zhihao’s greed.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
He was not a bookworm who paid no heed to worldly affairs. His master, a scholar, had taught him many different things, including knowledge and the path of an official.
The amount of oil and water used by the Southern officials was well-known, but the extent to which it was used was not something that could be known by others through word of mouth.
Upon receiving Zuo Shaoqing’s invitation, Jiung Hengzhou immediately went to fulfill his promise. However, when he saw the officials from Crane City once again, he couldn’t help but think of the gold and silver assets from that courtyard.
Thinking of this, his expression stiffened a bit. Looking at the table full of delicious food, he lost his appetite.
Jiung Hengzhou’s reputation was well-known, and he was seen as a talented youngster by everyone. Thus, he was also the target of Crane City officials trying to curry favor with him.
He forced himself to smile as he accepted the toasts. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Zuo Shaoqing being besieged by waves and waves of officials. His brilliant smile was like the sun on a winter day, stinging people to the point that they couldn’t open their eyes.
As the main character of today, Zuo Shaoqing’s smile never stopped. At his age, as a Prefect of a city, the number of people who truly admire him was few in number. How to win over such an experienced and cunning official like him was a big problem.
He lifted his glass in one hand and the jug in the other and went to each of the tables, matching each face to the name he remembered, and memorizing each person’s expression and eyes.
Some of these people could truly be used by him, some of them needed to be used by him through coercion and temptation, and some of them were people he could not afford to stay away from.
His attitude was neither intimate nor distant, neither too high nor too low. It just so happened that he was in a state that others could see but not touch, which many officials who wanted to test him could not figure out.
When Lu Zheng arrived, Zuo Shaoqing was already half-drunk. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were a little intoxicated. When he looked at Lu Zheng, he smiled innocently, making Lu Zheng unable to look away.
He walked up and put his arm around his shoulders in front of the crowd. “Why are you drinking so much?” he asked unhappily. Zuo Shaoqing’s alcohol tolerance was not bad. It could be seen that he had drunk quite a lot. He didn’t want Zuo Shaoqing to be seen like this.
“Still ok... Do I look drunk to you? ” Zuo Shaoqing smiled as he handed the wine cup to him, and pushed him to the main table, “Come, come, come. Master Lu finally came. Everyone must greet him well.”
Lu Zheng glanced at him helplessly. When he saw him blinking mischievously, he knew that Ye Zichen did indeed have some intelligence. At least Lu Zheng knew to find a shield for himself.
“That’s right. This official is already used to being petty. Didn’t Vice Minister Liang know about it?” Zuo Shaoqing was lying lazily on the bed. The atmosphere between him and Lu Zheng, which he had been alone with, was suddenly destroyed. One could imagine how he was feeling now.
Liang Qi closed his eyes and mumbled, “Do whatever you want. I can’t hear you. Just pretend that I don’t exist.”
Zuo Shaoqing’s face turned red and he had the urge to kick him off the carriage.
Liang Qi seemed to be able to read Lord Zuo’s thoughts. He lectured him in all seriousness, “Lord Zuo, I have been your teacher for a few days. As the saying goes, one day a teacher is a lifetime a father. You better not destroy the bridge after crossing the river!”
“How dare you? “This official’s position is not even as high as Vice Minister Liang’s. How dare he offend me?”
At this point, Zuo Shaoqing suddenly stopped smiling and asked in a serious tone, “You’re really not willing to ask for the position of the Emperor?”
Liang Qi sat up straight and opened his eyes, looking at him with clear eyes, “You already left the Ministry of Works, why are you still thinking about this?”
Zuo Shaoqing pouted, “Isn’t that for your own good?”
“Haha ...” Liang Qi leaned over and patted Zuo Shaoqing’s shoulder. Receiving a warning look from Lu Zheng, he smiled and said, “I’m afraid that it will be difficult for me to make a comeback in my life. Although I have power, I definitely won’t be able to live a carefree life like this.”
Zuo Shaoqing had already heard this reason once. He couldn’t say whether it was good or bad, but as long as Liang Qi was willing, he really couldn’t say anything.
“Then are you really willing to be suppressed by Ke City for the rest of your life?” He’s not as easy to talk to as Minister Lee. “
“That’s a problem ...” Liang Qi scratched his chin and thought for a moment, then winked at Lu Zheng, “I wonder if Master Lu has a good candidate?”
Zuo Shaoqing followed his line of sight and turned around, curiously looking at Lu Zheng, “It seems that Master Lu has quite a few people planted in the court!”
His gaze was full of curiosity, but he wasn’t surprised when he said it. Duke Zhen was such a powerful person, it was impossible to say that he didn’t have any backup in the court.
“You don’t need to worry about that. Just wait and see the result.” Lu Zheng pressed down Zuo Shaoqing’s head and let him rest on his lap, “Smells full of alcohol. Sleep for a while, I’ll wake you up when I get there.”
Liang Qi shouted, “The two men are so bored that they hurt their eyes!”
Lu Zheng glared at him and with a wave of his arm, a strong force pushed the noisy man off the carriage. He ordered coldly, “Soong Hanlin, watch him carefully. Don’t let him get on the carriage again!”
Soong Hanlin’s gloating voice quickly came from outside the carriage, “Yes, subordinate will obey! “Hee hee ...”